Texas Personal Injury Attorneys - Law Offices of Kobs, Haney and Hundley L.L.P.

SETTING THE STANDARD

The firm's members have consistently been recognized as top attorneys in their fields. Recent Awards include:

• "Super Lawyers" by Texas Monthly Magazine
• "Top Attorneys" by Fort Worth Magazine.
• "AV rated" by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
• "Top 100 Verdicts in United States" by Verdict Search

The firm's commitment to excellence has translated to success in the courtroom and at the bargaining table. Since 2001, the firm has obtained numerous substantial verdicts and settlements for its clients

Latest News

August, 2011 - Barnett Shale Settlement Announcement

The firm announces the settlement of a case involving the leasing of Barnett Shale mineral interests from a residential sub-division. The suit alleged that Carrizo, an oil and gas development company, tied up an individual’s mineral interests by leasing it through a separate firm engaged by them them to acquire leases. The suit alleged that the original lease was signed and accepted by the property owner, but that the company subsequently refused to honor the lease and pay the agreed lease bonus, after they prevented the property owner from leasing their mineral interests to other interested oil and gas development companies. The settlement, though confidential, required the company to honor the original lease terms. The suit was filed in Tarrant County, Texas and was resolved within 6 months of being filed.

August, 2011 - Barnett Shale Settlement Announcement

The firm announces the settlement of a significant case involving the leasing of mineral interests in the Barnett Shale. The firm represented a prominent local family that was one of the largest mineral interest owners in Hill, Johnson, and Tarrant counties. The suit alleged that a well known Fort Worth attorney breached his fiduciary duties to the family. The suit alleged that while representing the family in oil and gas lease negotiations the attorney took an undisclosed interest in wells drilled on their property. The suit sought disgorgement of the interests taken as well as disgorgement of the significant profits the attorney had derived through taking the interests. The suit also sought to recover punitive damages. The suit was vigorously defended by two prominent local law firms. One firm represented the attorney individually, while the other firm represented family trusts and entities created by the attorney to hold the interests.

The case was set for trial on August 1, 2011 in the 348th District Court of Tarrant County, Texas. It was anticipated to be a multi-week trial with testimony from numerous fact witnesses as well as from multiple experts. Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Deborah Hankinson served as the pre-trial mediator, however, the case was ultimately resolved in the days prior to trial through direct negotiations between the parties. Although the amount of the settlement is confidential, it included repayment as well assignment of interests back to the family. The firm believes that this case highlights some of the questionable practices that were employed in Barnett Shale leasing. The firm welcomes the opportunity to serve others who may also have been victimized by such practices.

June, 2011 - Chelsea Bowden v. Wichita County, Texas, et al.

The firm announced the settlement of a case involving injuries to an inmate while in custody at the Wichita County Jail. The suit alleged that the denial of timely and appropriate medical care resulted in the near death and material injuries to Ms. Bowden. As a result of her injuries Ms. Bowden, a young woman, was required to have a colostomy. Subsequent surgery has reversed the colostomy but left her with a shortened bowel and nutritional deficits.The suit led to operational changes at the jail. The doctor no longer provides medical services to the jail.

December, 2010 - Karen Freeto, et al. v. Ford Motor Company

The firm announced the settlement of a case against Ford Motor Company. The case arose from the death of Fort Worth Police Officer Dwayne Freeto. Officer Freeto was burned to death when the Crown Victoria Police Interceptor he was operating was rear ended by a drunk driver when he was stopped by the side of the freeway assisting a stranded motorist and erupted into flame. The suit alleged defective design and manufacture of the vehicle which places the fuel tank in the rear crush zone of the vehicle. The suit further alleged manufacturing defects that resulted in the catastrophic failure of the sender unit attachment to the fuel tank. Ford Motor Company is discontinuing this design.

November, 2010 - Michele Richardson, et al. v. City of Breckenridge, Texas

The firm announced the settlement of a case involving the death of Michael Richardson. This case led to substantial community activism over his death and public criticism regarding the operation and oversight of the Breckenridge Police Department and its officers. The case alleged that a rouge member of the Breckenridge Police Department used excessive force when responding to a one car accident resulting in the shooting death of Michael Richardson. The settlement will help the family and children of Michael Richardson.

July, 2010 - Kurren Kubes et al. v. Michael Parker, et al.

The firm announced the settlement of a case involving the tragic death of a young, newly married, Fort Worth attorney. The suit alleged that Jeffrey Kubes was killed when his vehicle was struck by the vehicle being operated by Michael Parker. The settlement, though confidential, was one of the largest settlements in Tarrant County for 2010. Following this settlement, suit was filed against an engineering firm and others alleging that the design of the intersection where the accident occurred failed to provide safe sight lines for traffic entering the intersection. The City of Fort Worth has subsequently modified traffic control devices at this intersection.

October 28, 2008 – Suit Settled for $2.1 Million with Texas A & M

The firm announced the settlement of claims against Texas A & M University and university officials arising from the collapse of the 1999 Texas A & M bonfire. Following the Waco Court of Appeals confirmation of the trial court's ruling denying immunity to Texas A & M and university officials, A & M officials agreed to settle the case. Statutory caps on damages affected the amount of the settlement.

October 20, 2008 – Suit Filed Against Ford Motor Company

Suit was file by the firm against Ford Motor Company over the burning death of Fort Worth Police Officer Dwayne Freeto. Officer Freeto was burned alive after his Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor was rear ended and burst into flames. The suit alleged that the design of the vehicle, which places the fuel tank in the crash zone for the vehicle, is defective. The suit further alleged that the fuel tank was defectively manufactured resulting in the catastrophic failure of the vehicles sender unit attachment to the fuel tank.

May 30, 2008 – A & M Bonfire Collapse

A divided Waco Court of Appeals upheld the trial court's ruling that Texas A & M officials cannot escape liability by asserting the sovereign immunity enjoyed by the State. The ruling, if allowed to stand by the Texas Supreme Court, paves the way for litigation to continue in Brazos County against the university officials that oversaw the annual bonfire activity and Zachry Construction Company that helped build the massive stack.

March, 2008 - Willie B. Fielder, et al. v. Rodney Swindle, et al.

The firm announced the settlement of a case involving the tragic death of Willie Fielder arising from a motor vehicle accident in Weatherford, Texas. The accident occurred when the vehicle being driven by Willie Fielder, a local high school football hero, was struck while he was on his way to track practice. Though not directly related to the cause of the accident, this case resulted in changes by the Weatherford School District in the transport of students to practice.

March 19, 2008 – Civil Rights Settlement

As reported in Fort Worth Weekly, attorneys at Kobs, Haney & Hundley recently settled a federal civil rights case against the Johnson County Jail. The suit alleged jail employees strapped a naked female prisoner to a restraint chair in excess of 5 hours without limiting viewing access or providing her any opportunity to use the rest room, leaving her naked and soiled in the chair. The case settled within six months of being filed. The jail changed its policies regarding the use of restraint chairs as a result of this incident.

August, 2007 - Robin Barker, et al v. General Motors

The firm announced the settlement of claims against General Motors filed in Parker County. Though the amounts paid were confidential, the case involved catastrophic injuries to a young girl who was partially ejected from a van manufactured by GM. The suit alleged that the electric door latch failed during the accident allowing the right front passenger door to come open during a roll over accident resulting in the partial ejection. The child sustained profound brain injuries, and will require life long care.

February, 2007 – James Mims, et al v. Dallas County, et al.

Dallas County Commissioners approved the settlement of civil rights claims arising from the operation of the Dallas County Jail. The settlement is one of the largest civil rights settlements in the history of Dallas County. The case arose from allegations of medical neglect at the Dallas County Jail for mentally ill prisoners. Dallas County was operating the jail under a consent decree with the United States Department of Justice designed to ensure that constitutionally adequate care was provided. The jail had repeatedly failed state jail inspections.

September, 2003 – Ricky Alexander et al. v. Correctional Services Corporation, et al.

The Court upheld a $38 million dollar verdict arising from the death of Bryan Alexander, a juvenile, at Tarrant County's Mansfield Boot Camp facility. With pre-judgment interest and costs judgment was entered for an amount in excess of $40 million dollars. The suit alleged that Bryan Alexander, a participant in the Boot Camp program, was tortured to death when denied reasonable access to medical care and forced to continue to participate in the physically demanding Boot Camp program when he was seriously ill. At the time of his death the facility was privately operated by Correctional Services Corporation. The Boot Camp was closed following his death.